Building plans for Finsbury Park

Two prestige building projects could soon transform the built environment of the Finsbury Park area with skyscraper developments providing flats, offices, restaurants and student accommodation.

Islington Council planning officers have recommended a scheme to redevelop the City North Islington Trading Estate for approval at a planning meeting today. The redevelopment would see the construction of a new L-shaped street, two 21-storey

skyscrapers, a 10-storey tower and a three-storey building between Finsbury Park Station and Fonthill Road, called "an elegant piece of architecture" by The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.

This would be the second major building project in the City north area, following the construction of new headquarters for local picture framing company John Jones which will include almost 500 student rooms as part of the development.

The planning application for a 25-storey tower block proposed by Arsenal Football Club's development arm Ashburton Trading has been withdrawn, but developers are now considering alternative options for a skyscraper as part of its £390million regeneration work of the area surrounding Emirate Stadium.

The club is also submitting an application for a new 12-storey hotel on the site of the Metro Bar in Holloway Road. The

Highbury Studios Hotel, with 138 hotel rooms

and 36 hotel-lets, will overlook Holloway Road Station if constructed. Both the hotel proposal and the plans for City North will be considered at the area planning meeting today.